Duct coupling

Abstract

A duct coupling system that is capable of coupling two ducts, such as a clothes dryer exhaust duct and a flexible helical clothes dryer duct that is connected to a wall vent. The duct coupling includes a first duct adapter with a first end to concentrically mate with the first duct, and a second end with a plurality of tines to flexibly bend toward the inner surface of the first duct adapter, such that the first duct that is concentrically mated with the first duct adapter is disposed between an inner surface of the plurality of tines and the inner surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bend.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A duct coupling for reversibly joining a first duct and a second duct, comprising:
 a first duct adapter having a first duct adapter inner surface, a first duct adapter outer surface, a first duct adapter end and a first duct adapter coupling end, wherein the first duct adapter end is configured to concentrically mate with the first duct; 
 a second duct adapter having a second duct adapter inner surface, a second duct adapter outer surface, a second duct adapter end and a second duct adapter coupling end, wherein the second duct adapter end is configured to mate with the second duct, and wherein the first duct adapter coupling end is configured to concentrically mate with the second duct adapter coupling end; 
 wherein the first duct adapter coupling end comprises a plurality of tines configured to flexibly bend toward the first duct adapter inner surface, such that the first duct that is concentrically mated with the first duct adapter end is disposed between an inner surface of the plurality of tines and the inner surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends; 
 wherein the second duct adapter coupling end is configured to concentrically mate with the first duct adapter coupling end so as to force the plurality of tines to clamp against the first duct that is disposed between the inner surface of the plurality of tines and the inner surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends; and 
 wherein the plurality of tines bends inwardly toward the inner surface of the first duct adapter and the second duct adapter is configured to fit inside the first duct adapter and concentrically mate with the inner surface of the first duct adapter. 
 
     
     
       2. The duct coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tines are connected to the first duct adapter coupling end via a flexible hinge. 
     
     
       3. The duct coupling according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible hinge further comprises a thinned region of flexible material. 
     
     
       4. The duct coupling according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of tines are manufactured in a position pointing radially inwardly relative to the first duct adapter. 
     
     
       5. The duct coupling according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pressure ridges disposed on the inner surface of the plurality of tines, the one or more pressure ridges configured to cause the plurality of tines to frictionally engage the first duct concentrically mated with the first duct adapter end, the first duct disposed between the inner surface of the plurality of tines and the inner surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends. 
     
     
       6. The duct coupling according to  claim 5 , wherein the first duct comprises a flexible duct having helical wires. 
     
     
       7. The duct coupling according to  claim 6 , wherein the one or more pressure ridges are configured to be positioned between the helical wires of the flexible duct. 
     
     
       8. The duct coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tines further comprises a first locking ridge disposed on an outer surface of the plurality of tines, and wherein the second duct adapter coupling end comprises a second locking ridge circumferentially disposed around the second duct outer surface that engages the plurality of tines, wherein the first locking ridge is configured to forcibly pass over the second locking ridge and reversibly lock the first duct adapter and second duct adapter together in a concentric mating position. 
     
     
       9. The duct coupling according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of tines comprises the first locking ridge and a second outer surface locking ridge, the first locking ridge and the second outer surface locking ridge comprising opposing ridges and defining a channel between the opposing ridges into which channel the second locking ridge of the second duct adapter coupling end engages. 
     
     
       10. The duct coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first duct adapter and second duct adapter comprises a 90 degree angle between a coupling end and duct end. 
     
     
       11. The duct coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein the second duct adapter comprises a flange against which the first duct adapter abuts to stop axial movement of the first duct adapter and second duct adapter relative to each other. 
     
     
       12. The duct coupling according to  claim 11 , wherein the flange is disposed around a circumference of the second duct adapter. 
     
     
       13. A duct coupling for reversibly joining a first duct and a second duct, comprising:
 a first duct adapter having a first duct adapter inner surface, a first duct adapter outer surface, a first duct adapter end and a first duct adapter coupling end, wherein the first duct adapter end is concentrically mateable with the first duct; 
 a second duct adapter including a second duct adapter end and a second duct adapter coupling end, wherein the second duct adapter end is mateable with the second duct, and wherein the first duct adapter coupling end is concentrically mateable with the second duct adapter coupling end; 
 wherein the first duct adapter coupling end comprises a plurality of tines flexibly bendable toward the inner surface of the first duct adapter, such that the first duct that is concentrically mated with the first duct adapter end is disposed between an inner surface of the plurality of tines and the inner surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends; 
 wherein the second duct adapter coupling end is concentrically mateable with the first duct adapter coupling end to force the plurality of tines to clamp against the first duct that is disposed between the inner surface of the plurality of tines and the inner surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends; and 
 wherein the plurality of tines bends inwardly toward the inner surface of the first duct adapter and the second duct adapter is configured to fit inside the first duct adapter and concentrically mate with the inner surface of the first duct adapter. 
 
     
     
       14. The duct coupling according to  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface of one or more of the plurality of tines further comprises at least one pressure ridge, wherein the at least one pressure ridge causes the plurality of tines to frictionally engage the first duct concentrically mated with the first duct adapter end and disposed between the inner surface of the plurality of tines and the inner surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends. 
     
     
       15. A duct coupling for reversibly joining a first duct and a second duct, comprising:
 a first duct adapter having a first duct adapter inner surface, a first duct adapter outer surface, a first duct adapter end and a first duct adapter coupling end, wherein the first duct adapter end is concentrically mateable with the first duct; 
 a second duct adapter including a second duct adapter end and a second duct adapter coupling end, wherein the second duct adapter end is mateable with the second duct, and wherein the first duct adapter coupling end is concentrically mateable with the second duct adapter coupling end; 
 wherein the first duct adapter coupling end comprises a plurality of tines flexibly bendable toward the outer surface of the first duct adapter, wherein the plurality of tines further comprises a first locking ridge disposed on an outer surface of the plurality of tines, such that the first duct that is concentrically mated with the first duct adapter end is disposed between an inner surface of the plurality of tines and the outer surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends; and 
 wherein the second duct adapter coupling end comprises a second locking ridge circumferentially disposed around an inner surface of the second duct adapter that engages the plurality of tines, wherein the first locking ridge is configured to forcibly pass over the second locking ridge and reversibly lock the first duct adapter and second duct adapter together in a concentric mating position; and 
 wherein the plurality of tines bends inwardly toward the outer surface of the first duct adapter and the second duct adapter is configured to fit outside the first duct adapter and concentrically mate with the outer surface of the first duct adapter. 
 
     
     
       16. The duct coupling according to  claim 15 , wherein the inner surface of one or more of the plurality of tines further comprises at least one pressure ridge, the at least one pressure ridge causing the plurality of tines to frictionally engage the first duct concentrically mated with the first duct adapter end, the first duct disposed between the inner surface of the plurality of tines and the outer surface of the first duct adapter toward which the plurality of tines flexibly bends.